Saturday, June 02, 2018

My Victorian Year #22

I have read some in Little Women and some in Rachel Ray--just not a lot! In Little Women, Jo has met the Professor, refused to marry Laurie, and realized that Beth is fading fast and is not long for this world. Amy has gone off to Europe as has Laurie with his grandfather.

In Rachel Ray, Mrs. Ray is still struggling with her conscience. Does she believe her youngest daughter, Rachel? Believe in her innocence--her innocent intent, her moral character? Or does she believe her oldest daughter, Mrs. Prime? Does she believe that Rachel is walking down a dangerous path, destined for wickedness, a path that will bring shame and dishonor down upon them all.

The accusation: Rachel has talked to a YOUNG MAN--alone. There were witnesses who saw the two stop walking, stand in a churchyard, and TALK. Mrs. Prime has threatened to leave the house forever if her mother doesn't put a stop to the situation. Mrs. Ray confused as ever goes to her pastor, Mr. Comfort, I believe. He tells her that Rachel has done nothing wrong. That it would be good if Rachel married. That there is nothing to his knowledge against the young man. That there is no reason at all to be concerned. 

Rachel has been invited to a dance and accepted the invitation--with the permission of her mother. Her older sister is MOVING OUT certain that her sister is no longer in the grace of God.

Quotes from Little Women:
“I’ve done my best, but you won’t be reasonable, and it’s selfish of you to keep teasing for what I can’t give. I shall always be fond of you, very fond indeed, as a friend, but I’ll never marry you, and the sooner you believe it the better for both of us—so now!”
I give you entire liberty, but I trust you to make an honest use of it. Promise me that, Laurie.” “Anything you like, sir.” “Good,” thought the old gentleman. “You don’t care now, but there’ll come a time when that promise will keep you out of mischief, or I’m much mistaken.”
Don’t neglect husband for children, don’t shut him out of the nursery, but teach him how to help in it. His place is there as well as yours, and the children need him. Let him feel that he has a part to do, and he will do it gladly and faithfully, and it will be better for you all.”

Quotes from Rachel Ray:
People do get to know each other without any looking, and they can’t help it.
Mr. Prong was an energetic, severe, hardworking, and, I fear, intolerant young man, who bestowed very much laudable care upon his sermons. The care and industry were laudable, but not so the pride with which he thought of them and their results. He spoke much of preaching the Gospel, and was sincere beyond all doubt in his desire to do so; but he allowed himself to be led away into a belief that his brethren in the ministry around him did not preach the Gospel, — that they were careless shepherds, or shepherds’ dogs indifferent to the wolf, and in this way he had made himself unpopular among the clergy and gentry of the neighbourhood.
What might be the length of a sermon of Mr. Prong’s no man or woman could foretell, but he never spared himself or his congregation much under an hour.
If our girls are to be made respectable by giving grand dances, I’d rather not have them respectable. How much is the whole thing to cost?”
 Mrs. Tappitt knew that she had done well, and prepared for his dinner that day a beef-steak pie, made with her own hands. Tappitt was not altogether a dull man, and understood these little signs. “Ah,” said he, “I wonder how much that pie is to cost me?”
© 2018 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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